Swimming to reduce lymphedema in the legs…

For years I have been telling people with leg lymphedema that the best exercise to reduce swelling is swimming. Because? There are a few reasons why swimming is the best exercise.

One, because when you swim you are in a horizontal position instead of vertical and with your leg under your torso. This is similar to when you are lying down or raising your leg to reduce swelling.

Two, by swimming your bodily fluids are circulating. The movement of the limbs and muscles is creating a force to move the fluids throughout the body. The kicking motion while swimming helps expel fluids from the leg. Your blood and lymph fluid move faster when you are swimming than when you are sitting or lying down.

Three, the water itself offers gentle compression when in a pool. It’s softer than a compression stocking, but it’s still useful when you’re standing in the pool while swimming. Swimming is great, but even standing up and moving your leg in the water is helpful.

And four, swimming is non-impact. That means your foot doesn’t hit the ground with each step like it does when walking or running. Walking and running actually make leg lymphedema worse from all the bumps/impacts and gravity. Yes, they do help with circulation a bit, but the impact causes fluid to pool in the leg instead of being pushed out of the leg. Your body is vertical and the fluids are going down. Swimming is very gentle and effective for those of us with leg lymphedema compared to any other aerobic exercise.

I have been dealing with lymphedema in the legs since my cancer surgery in 1991. At that time, I already had a degree in physical therapy, was a physical trainer and gymnastics coach. He knew how the body worked.

I had a malignant melanoma on the right thigh. Many doctors told me that I would be bedridden for the rest of my life after cancer surgery. Surgery was the only way to save my life. That was if it wasn’t already too late. The doctor was not sure if the cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes and throughout my body. If he had, it would have been too late. Going into surgery, I didn’t know if I had weeks to live or a lifetime of being bedridden.

Doctors removed the malignant tumor and lymph nodes from the groin area during surgery. There were two combined surgeries that lasted many hours. Immediately after the surgery, my leg was as wide as my waist. He had a tree trunk and a long way to go to shrink it down to normal size. My life was saved, but my leg and my life were forever changed. It took me almost a year to reduce my leg to almost normal size. I have maintained my leg lymphedema extremely well because I am very disciplined.

A few quick tips to reduce swelling…lifting, compression, circulation/light exercise and a very healthy diet of various fruits and vegetables – that’s the secret to reducing swelling and keeping it down. Eat foods like fruits and vegetables. Stay away from processed foods, fast foods, junk food, alcohol, soft drinks, and other unhealthy foods.

I studied physical therapy in college and have been a CSCS for many years. I know how to maintain health and recover from illness and injury. I admit, my knowledge has made it easier for me to maintain my leg lymphedema, but you can too.

What prompted me to write this today? I spend the whole winter wishing I had access to a swimming pool so I could better maintain my lymphedema. This week the pool opened and I paid for my pool pass. I will be able to keep my leg looking and feeling great with almost no swelling on non-working days. HURRAH!

I swam for the first time this summer yesterday and my leg felt and looked great afterwards. Elevating today and it feels good. I can’t wait to go to my social ballroom dance later tonight!